Internal-combustion engine.



1.. mm INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION mm APR. 2. 1914.

Patented Oct, 30, I917.

' tion, the view being ject of the Combustion Engines,

LOUIS PLEIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

INTEBNALCOMBUSTION ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 30, 1917.

Application filed April 2, 1914. Serial N0. 828,983.

To all whom it may concern:

Be-it known that I, Lours Pnnnv, a sub- Grand Duke of Luxemburg, residin at Chicago, in the county of Cook and [tats of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Internalof which the following is a specification.

Certain features of this invention relate to internal combustion engines of the type wherein sliding sleeves or rings are employed to control the inlet and exhaust ports. In prior constructions the sleeves or rings have usually been so arranged that a considerable area thereofv was exposed to the burning gases. It is one of the objects of t of the slid g s eeveror rin type wherein the valve elements are expose to a comparatively slight extent to the combustion, and wherein the valve elements in their opening movement move away from the combustion space and into a relatively cooler location.

Another object of the invention is to arrange the parts with which the valve elements arein contact so that said parts may be efiectively cooled.

Another object of the'invention is toprovide improved means for preventing leakage ast the valve elements.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for lubricating the valve-operating mechanism.

In the accompanyin drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmental centra sectional view of an engine embodying the features of my inventaken in the plane of 2. Fig. 2 is a fragdotted line 1 of'Fig.

the plane of mental sectional view taken in dotted line 2 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, 1 denotes the engine cylinder, 2 the piston, 3 the inlet port and 4 the exhaust port. The inlet port and exhaust port are in the same transverse plane and are preferably, although not necessarily located opposite each other in the walls of the cylinder 1. The upper or combustion end of the cylinder is closed by means of a head consisting of an annular flange 5, a hollow substantially cylindrical portion 6 extendin inwardly from the flange 5 to a point be ow the inlet and outlet openings .this inventiiop o rovide a valve mechanism' tion. As the in the cylinder, and a wall 7 which closes the inner end of the cylindrical portion 6. The cylinder head is secured to the cylinder by suitable means, such as screws 5 extending through the flange 5. If desired, the wall 7 may be so formed as to present a concave surface to the combustion space. The inwardly extending cylindrical portion 6 and the upper end of the cylinder 1 form a valve casing or annular space 8 extending away from the combustion space, the ports 3 and 4; openin into said annular space.

The cy inder 1 may, if desired, be waterjacketed in any ordinary or preferred manner, and the interidr of the cylindrical portion 6 may communicate in any suitable way with the water-circulating systemso as to be cooled by the flowing water.

The valves for covering and uncovering the ports, 3 and 4 consist of two half-rings 9 and 10, which together constitute a complete ring having a gas-tight fit within the annular space8. Said half-rin may be leterally reciprocated to cover and ports 3 and 4 by any suitable,means, that herein shown consisting of valve stems 11 and 12 secured to the valve members 9 and respectively, said stems extending through openings 5 in the cylinder head.

The valve operating mechanism is inclosed "in a casing 13 consisting of two sections 14 and 15, the section 15 fitting upon the section 14', and both sections being secured to the end of the cylinder by means of bolts 16. In the casing section 14 are formed bearings or tubular guides 17 for the valve stems 11 and 12, similar guides 17 being provided in the section 15. \Vithin the casing section 15 the valve stems 11 and 12 are provided with arms 18, each of said arms having a roller stud 19. Said roller studs run within the cam grooves 20 of two cam disks 21, said disks being mounted upon a cam shaft 22. Said shaft is mounted in bea rings 22 formed between the casing sections 14 and 15, and may be driven from the crank-shaft by any suitable or ordinary means. The shaft "22 is driven at such a speed and the cam disks 21 are set in such relation to each other on the shaft 22 that the members 9 and 10 are moved to produce thedesired cycle of opera shaft 22- is revolved the valve uncover the t .when the valves are actuated to open and Ill men'ibers 9 and 1,; are reciprocated in the space 8 to cover and uncover the ports 3 and 4;.

In order that the inlet and outlet openings will not be unduly restricted by reason of the fact that they lead into and throu h the annular space, said space is made of su tantial width. It will thus be evident that do said openings the gases are free to U. or substantially in a diagonal path through the openings as distinguished from traveling in a rectangular path as would. otherwise be necessary.

To prevent leakage past the val, members 9 and 10, I provide suitablepacking means such two split rings 23, said rings lying side by side within an annular peripheral groove 24 formed in the cylindrical portion 6. The packing rings exert pressure against the inner or concave side of the valve members 9 and 10 and serve to hold said valve members in fluid-tight con tact with outer annular wall of the casing 13 is adapted and intended. to contaii'l a suitable quantity of lubricating oil. The splashing of the oil as the cam disks 21 revolve causes the cams to be thoroughly lubricated and causes oil to be thrown upon the valve stems 11 and 12, the oil being carried into the bearings l? 1,75. will be noted that only the lower sides 5 the Vz3.l')1161l1i3" exposed to the a, that when he vaive members move to uncover the ports, said valve members move in the direction away from the combustion space and hence into a cooler space.

The valve'member '10, moreover, is cooled of? the combustible mixture n 1 ti port Both of the-walls defining the space 8 water-coo. d, and thus se c to to point below the til-on. o. the valve members, and. i the snug-fit of the valve memsmnular space, the cooling agent he hollow head end cylinder jacket to ma c. of elhciency in main in .mhers cool. Onlythe H1 or the valve members "hing in the coinust valve 9 is being opened, in fl 3. cylii'id'er operates ston to force it up po er to the cam During the downvv" ru 'm'ovcment' of either the valve members, rarefaction of the m 'the'pertion of the. annular spaoe 8 rotect the valve members fromcylmdncei portion 106 "1i below the lowe" above the valve members will occur, whereupon the then greater pressure inthe oil casing l4, 15 will act to force the oil down between the valve stems 11, 12 and their bearings. A positive feed of lubricant to the-stems is thereby accomplished.

The arms 18 are adjustably secured to the valve-stems Hand 12 by means of the nuts 18, said nuts afl'ording means'to permit adjustment of the valve members 9 and 10 with relation to the ports 3 and 4 and the cam shaft. 22. v V

It will be understood that while I have described the present embodiment of this in vention with-considerable particularity, the invention is not limited to the precisec'onstruction and arrangement shown, andthat various .change'smay be made'witliout' de- I parting from the spirit and scope of my id vention as is set forth in theflappen'ded claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An. internal-combustionen'gin having, in combination, a cylinder, a; head closing the combustion end of the cylinder and having a cvlindrical'portion extendinginto the cylinder, the cylinder wall and saidcylindrical portion forming between them an' annular space of substantial width, the cylind'er having an inlet and an'outlet in opposite sides thereof communicating directly with said annular space Above the lower end of said cylindrical portion,two indepcndently slidable valve members, eachin the form of a half ring, havingtheir ends abutting to form a complete ring which has a gastight fit'fbctween the walls of said annular space and is adapted to operate Wholly within said space'wherebyleakuge.

cylinder, a hollow water-cooled cylinder head secured to the cylinder, said head providing a valve-receiving space between the head and the cylinder, valve members in said space, an oil casing secured to the end .ofthe cylinder and forming a cover'for the water space of the'cylinder head, valve stems secured to the valve members and extending through openings in the cylinder head and into said casing, and means in said casing to on rate the valve stems.

3. In an internal-combustion engine, a cylinder, a head secured to the end of the cylinder, said head providing a valve-receiving space between the head and the cylinder wall, two casing sections secured to the end of the cylinder, one of the casing sections being superposed upon the other casing section, valve members in said valvereceiving space, stems secured to said valve members and extending through openings in the cylinder head, the lower casing section having tubular guides for said valve stems, a cam shaft in said casing, said casing having bearings for said shaft, cams on said cam shaft, and members carried by said valve stems for engagement by said came.

4. An internal combustion engine having, in combination, a cylinder, a head closing the combustion end of the cylinder and having an inwardly extending cylindrical portion, the cylinder wall and said cylindrical portion forming between them an annular space of substantial width, the inner end of which opens into the combustionchamber of the cylinder, the cylinder having an inlet and an outlet in opposite sides thereof communicating directly with said annular space, two independently slidable valve members,

. each in the form of a half ring, having their ends abuttin to form a complete ring having a gas-tig t fit between the walls of said annular space, said valve members being arranged to control said inlet and said outlet, respectively, said head extending to a point below said inlet and outlet and below the lowermost position of said valve members so that only the lower edges of said valve members are exposed to the pressure in the combustion end of the cylinder, stems fixed to said valve members and extending upwardly slidably through said heads, an oil casing into which the outer portions of said stems extend, and means in said casing for operating said stems, said valve members act-mg as pistons to draw in 011 from said oil chamber along said stems.

' 5. An internal-combustion engine having, in combination, a cylinder, a head closing the combustion end of the cylinder and having an inwardly-extending cylindrical p01 tion, the cylinder wall and said cylindrical portion forming between them an annular space of substantial width, the inner end of which opens into the combustion chamber of the cylinder, the cylinder having an inlet and an outlet in opposite sides thereof communicating directly with said annular space,, two lndependently-slidable valve membrs eachifn the form of a half-ring 60, having their ends" abutting to form a complete ring occupying said annular space, said valve members being arranged to control said inlet and said outlet, respectivel said head extending to a point below said inlet and outlet and below the lowermost position of said valve members so that only the lower edges of said valve members are exposed to the pressure in the combustion ing an inwardlyextending cylindrical portion, the cylinder wall and said cylindrical portion forming between them an annular space of substantial width, the inner end of which opens into the combustion chamber of the cylinder, the cylinder having an inlet and an outlet in opposite sides thereof communicating directly with said annular space,

two independentlyslidable valve members, each in the form of a half-ring, having their ends abutting to form a complete ring hav ing a gas-tight fit between the walls of said annular space, said valve members being arranged to control said inlet and said outlet, respectively, said head extending to a point below said inlet and outlet and below the lowermost position of said valve members so that only the lower edges of said valve members are exposed to the pressure in the combustion chamber, said cylinder being water-jacketed and said cylindrical portion of the head being hollow so that the walls on both sides of said annular space may be directly contacted by the cooling medium,

cylinder, the. cylinder wall and said cylin-' drical portion forming between them an annular space of,substantialwidth, the cylinder having an inlet and outlet in opposite sides thereof communicating directly with said annular space above thelower end of said cylindrical portion,-two independently-slidable valve members, each in the formof a half-ring having their ends abutting toform a complete ring which has a gastight fit between the walls of said an nular'space whereby leakage of gas along' the valve members is prevented and only the lower edges of the valve membersvare exposed to the pressure in the combustion end of the cylinder, said valve members being arranged to control said inlet and said outlet, respectively, and means for operating said valve members.

' 8. An internal combustlon engine having, in combination, a cylinder, a head closing the upper end of. the cylinder and having a 

